Hat-protector.



W. J. STEWART. HAT PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1909.

939,874. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

WILLIAM J. STEWART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAT-PROTECTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. STEWART,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented or dis-v covered certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Protectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had,

therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object to provide a hat protector of such construction and material that in its collapsed condition it will occupy Very little space and may be carried in a. small receptacle attached to the inside of a hat, but which is of such a character that it may be readily stretched over the hat, when required, for the purpose of rendering the same'waterproof.

To this end the improved protector consists of a collapsible tubular body of-thin highly elastic rubber of the character known as dam rubber, and which is a very thin sheet rubber or pure rubber in Very thin form, so that when properly stretched or distended-it will be translucent and almost transparent, and will therefore hardly be 1perceptible when worn or stretched over a iat. To enable the protector to properly fit the hat or cap to be covered, and to remain in place thereon, the collapsible tubular body is provided between its closed and open ends with one or more integral thickened annular portions or bands of pure rubber which will serve, when the protector is stretched over a hat or cap, to constrict the protector at its thickened portions.

For an ordinary, hat a single annular thickened portion or band located about midway between the closed and openends of the protector, and which, when the protector is stretched over the hat, will come at the point of junction between the crown and brim of the hat, will ordinarily be sufiicient; but for some hats or caps of peculiar shape two' or more integral thickened bands or portions between the closed and open ends of the protector may, in some instances, be desirable. The open end of the protector is also provided'with a thickened annular band or portion which will serve to constrict the open end or part of the; protector on the lower edge of a cap or the brim portion of a hat when the protector is stretched over the 55 hat.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 29,

represents one form of the improved protector in elevation, and Fig. 2 is an illustration of the same in section. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating difi'erent forms of the invention. Fig. (3 illustrates a hat with one of the protectors like those shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, stretched thereon, and Fig. 7 illustrates a cap vfor which a protector of the form shown in Fig. 5 would be suitable.

' Serial No. 499,143.

body of the protector which is of thin highly elastic pure rubber, preferably of the kind vided near its middle part with a thickened annular band 13 integral therewith, and which is also provided at or near its open end with a second thickened integral annularband or portion 14:.

In .the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 two 'annular thickened portions or bands 13 intermediate the closed and open ends of the protector will preferably be provided.

7 In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tubular body is contracted at or near its middle portion at the point where the annular thickened portion or band 13 is located, and is also preferably contracted at its open end where the thickened annular portion or band 14 is located.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the closed ends of the tubular bodies of the protectors are practically straight across, while in the form of the protector shown in Fig. at the closed end is tapered, and this tapered closed end of the forms of hats, like Derby hats.

its normal condition is relatively quite small, and for'most hats need not be more than about an inch and a half in diameter and about two inches in length, so that it can be collapsed into very small compass, and when it will be so nearly transparent as hardly to be noticeable excepton close inspection.

In applying the protector shown in Fig. 5 to the form of cap shown in Fig. 7 the bands 13 will serve to tightly hold the protector on the cap at the points where they are located, as will be understood.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the particular shapes or these may be varied, in use, to adapt the Patented Nov. 9, 1909. 7

Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes the v known as dam rubber and which is pro'-' The improved highly elastic protector in fully distended over an ordinary straw hat forms of the, protector herein illustrated, as

band better adapts the protector to some same to difl'erent forms or shapesof hats and caps, without departing from the essence of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.- A liat protector consistin of a collapsible tubular body of thin high y elastic pure rubber having open and closed ends, sa.id

body having one or more integral thickened annular bands betweentits ends, and having also, at its open end, an integral thickened annular band.

having near its middle a contracted and thickened integral annular portion or band, 1

and at- "its open end a second contracted thickened integral annular portion or band.

3., A hat protector consisting of a collapsible body of thin, highly elastic rubber and having open and closed ends, said body having near its middle a thickened integral annular portion or band, and at its open end a second thick ned integral annular portion or band.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. STEWART. Witnesses:

HENRY CALVER, CHAS. S. HYER. 

